Google play merchant account limitations not fair.
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Okay, I have been wondering for a while that In my country Zambia, I can purchase an android app on Google play yet I can't sell my own except rely on ads for monetization. Why is Google play merchant account so limited and one sided? This limits one's business models, in a modern world such as this one, a one sided store is bad for business, you can buy but can't sell. Maybe I'am missing something here, paypal is everywhere, why can't Google merchant account support all countries? If it can't then those countries that are not supported should also not be able to purchase paid apps. ;P
“Everything is simple when you take your time to analyze it.”
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Okay, I have been wondering for a while that In my country Zambia, I can purchase an android app on Google play yet I can't sell my own except rely on ads for monetization. Why is Google play merchant account so limited and one sided? This limits one's business models, in a modern world such as this one, a one sided store is bad for business, you can buy but can't sell. Maybe I'am missing something here, paypal is everywhere, why can't Google merchant account support all countries? If it can't then those countries that are not supported should also not be able to purchase paid apps. ;P
“Everything is simple when you take your time to analyze it.”
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I would wager a guess that google hasn't worked out the legislative details with the Zambia government to collect money and pay taxes. What you have is a subset of features based on legal issues. Purely speculation.
But Google can collect money if I pay for an app or do an in-app purchase, those legislative laws should apply both ways, shouldn't they? I feel like if one can purchase something then they should be able to sell something too.
“Everything is simple when you take your time to analyze it.”
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But Google can collect money if I pay for an app or do an in-app purchase, those legislative laws should apply both ways, shouldn't they? I feel like if one can purchase something then they should be able to sell something too.
“Everything is simple when you take your time to analyze it.”
BupeChombaDerrick wrote:
those legislative laws should apply both ways, shouldn't they?
No, not really.
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BupeChombaDerrick wrote:
those legislative laws should apply both ways, shouldn't they?
No, not really.
Maybe if you could clarify a little bit about how taxes work on either side, in a case were I purchase an app or do an in-app purchase, Google, the developer and the government in the supported country gets a share, Purchasing an app from a developer residing in another country is like importing it in my country, thus somehow my government needs a chunk of that money. That's why I feel it's not fair, if a Google merchant account can't support a particular country then purchasing should not be supported as well in that country. :)
“Everything is simple when you take your time to analyze it.”
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Maybe if you could clarify a little bit about how taxes work on either side, in a case were I purchase an app or do an in-app purchase, Google, the developer and the government in the supported country gets a share, Purchasing an app from a developer residing in another country is like importing it in my country, thus somehow my government needs a chunk of that money. That's why I feel it's not fair, if a Google merchant account can't support a particular country then purchasing should not be supported as well in that country. :)
“Everything is simple when you take your time to analyze it.”
When you talk about international commerce, global politics comes into play, and the result can be anything but fair.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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Maybe if you could clarify a little bit about how taxes work on either side, in a case were I purchase an app or do an in-app purchase, Google, the developer and the government in the supported country gets a share, Purchasing an app from a developer residing in another country is like importing it in my country, thus somehow my government needs a chunk of that money. That's why I feel it's not fair, if a Google merchant account can't support a particular country then purchasing should not be supported as well in that country. :)
“Everything is simple when you take your time to analyze it.”
BupeChombaDerrick wrote:
Maybe if you could clarify a little bit about how taxes work on either side
The only thing I can clarify is how I would get taxed in my country, when selling or purchasing, but that would be useless to you. I have no idea how Google would be taxed in my country, yours, or their, nor I know how you would be taxed in your country. And you purchasing apps via credit card and receive payments via wired transfer, which are covered by different sets of law in your country, probably. So I guess tax laws, bank regulations and Google interests do not add up in case of your country.
BupeChombaDerrick wrote:
if a Google merchant account can't support a particular country then purchasing should not be supported as well in that country
That would be crazy, there's much more people buying apps then selling them. Why should overwhelming majority of customers be blocked from using one important feature of the store/market, just because minority cannot use some other feature due to external obstacles? That's not my vision of fair, or sane. I know it sucks you cannot sell apps, but your idea of fair does not hold water in this case.
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BupeChombaDerrick wrote:
Maybe if you could clarify a little bit about how taxes work on either side
The only thing I can clarify is how I would get taxed in my country, when selling or purchasing, but that would be useless to you. I have no idea how Google would be taxed in my country, yours, or their, nor I know how you would be taxed in your country. And you purchasing apps via credit card and receive payments via wired transfer, which are covered by different sets of law in your country, probably. So I guess tax laws, bank regulations and Google interests do not add up in case of your country.
BupeChombaDerrick wrote:
if a Google merchant account can't support a particular country then purchasing should not be supported as well in that country
That would be crazy, there's much more people buying apps then selling them. Why should overwhelming majority of customers be blocked from using one important feature of the store/market, just because minority cannot use some other feature due to external obstacles? That's not my vision of fair, or sane. I know it sucks you cannot sell apps, but your idea of fair does not hold water in this case.
Mladen Janković wrote:
I have no idea how Google would be taxed in my country, yours, or their,
Neither do most taxing agents, so many countries are trying to work out how to tax these buggers it is not funny.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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Mladen Janković wrote:
I have no idea how Google would be taxed in my country, yours, or their,
Neither do most taxing agents, so many countries are trying to work out how to tax these buggers it is not funny.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
Yeah no wonder Google play is heavily suppressed in regions like China.
“Everything is simple when you take your time to analyze it.”
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BupeChombaDerrick wrote:
Maybe if you could clarify a little bit about how taxes work on either side
The only thing I can clarify is how I would get taxed in my country, when selling or purchasing, but that would be useless to you. I have no idea how Google would be taxed in my country, yours, or their, nor I know how you would be taxed in your country. And you purchasing apps via credit card and receive payments via wired transfer, which are covered by different sets of law in your country, probably. So I guess tax laws, bank regulations and Google interests do not add up in case of your country.
BupeChombaDerrick wrote:
if a Google merchant account can't support a particular country then purchasing should not be supported as well in that country
That would be crazy, there's much more people buying apps then selling them. Why should overwhelming majority of customers be blocked from using one important feature of the store/market, just because minority cannot use some other feature due to external obstacles? That's not my vision of fair, or sane. I know it sucks you cannot sell apps, but your idea of fair does not hold water in this case.
Mladen Janković wrote:
Why should overwhelming majority of customers be blocked from using one important feature of the store/market, just because minority cannot use some other feature due to external obstacles?
Google is innovative enough to overcome those "external obstacles", plus the expansion of Google play merchant account is too slow for Google. Given the global share that Android has concerning mobile devices, it makes sense for Google to support all countries, and consider even the minority developers in those countries.
“Everything is simple when you take your time to analyze it.”
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Mladen Janković wrote:
Why should overwhelming majority of customers be blocked from using one important feature of the store/market, just because minority cannot use some other feature due to external obstacles?
Google is innovative enough to overcome those "external obstacles", plus the expansion of Google play merchant account is too slow for Google. Given the global share that Android has concerning mobile devices, it makes sense for Google to support all countries, and consider even the minority developers in those countries.
“Everything is simple when you take your time to analyze it.”
Are you suggesting that they have magic stick or that they should bribe the government? We had similar case here with PayPal. Central bank was refusing, for years, to update regulation to allow PayPal-like services. Only year or two ago they finally done that, but receiving money is still not possible (IIRC). It might not be the case for Zambia, but I also doubt it's Google causing the problem.
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Are you suggesting that they have magic stick or that they should bribe the government? We had similar case here with PayPal. Central bank was refusing, for years, to update regulation to allow PayPal-like services. Only year or two ago they finally done that, but receiving money is still not possible (IIRC). It might not be the case for Zambia, but I also doubt it's Google causing the problem.
Mladen Janković wrote:
Are you suggesting that they have magic stick or that they should bribe the government?
No, Admob from Google does support Zambia, they can send money to me if I'am using Admob so why can't I just sell apps? This is because the kind of app I'am creating might be better monetized with in-app purchases than ads. Paypal works here as well, but not Google merchant account. I also feel that if Google merchant account expands it would improve the general quality of the store itself, a win-win situation on either side. :)
“Everything is simple when you take your time to analyze it.”
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When you talk about international commerce, global politics comes into play, and the result can be anything but fair.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
Yeah this one is a genuine answer:thumbsup:
“Everything is simple when you take your time to analyze it.”
